Apparatus for treating coffee-beans.



Patented Aug. 22; 1899.

N0. saws.

\ E. CANZIANI.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING COFFEE BEANS.

(Application filed Apr. 12, 1897,)

{No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ENRICO CANZIAN/I, on MILAN, ITALY.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING COFFEE-BEANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 631,616, dated August 22, 1899.

' Apnlication filed April 12, 1897. Serial No. 631,851. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENRICO OANZIANI, civil engineer, residing at Milan, Italy, have invented an Apparatus for Treating Coffee Beans, (for which I have obtained patents in Belgium, No. 122,512; dated July 31, 1896, and in France, No. 258,116, dated November 5, 1896,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for hulling and polishing coffee-beans Coffee-beans when removed from the coffeeberries are covered with skins or films which must be removed before the beans become ready for roasting and grinding; and it is the object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for removing this skin or film and polishing the beans, so as to render them ready for use and enhance their commercial value.

To these ends my invention consists in the apparatus hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,forming a part of this specification, which shows'a vertical section of my improved apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, the letter S indi-- cates a vessel, preferably of stone, the bowl of which is of oval shape, as shown, and is fixed and supported in a metal frame G. The vessel is surmounted by an annular metallic cap R, provided with two jackets M and M, the exterior jacket M being a steam-jacket, and the interior jacket M forming an airchamber. Oommunicatin g with the jacket M is valved steam-pipe A, by means of which steam may be introduced into the jacket M. An exhaust-pipe B leads from the steamjacket M, by means of which the steam and water of condensation are carried ofi from the jacket M. A valved water-pipe A is also provided, the same having a discharge cook or nozzle for spraying water over the beans contained in the vessel S.

The letter 0 indicates an air-pipe which communicates by a branch pipe D with the jacket M and is connected to an air-exhauster. (Not shown.) The air-pipe O is preferably also connected by a branch pipe E with an annular air-chamber F, arranged in the bottom of the vessel S. Communication is had between the vessel S and the interior of the jacket M and annular chamber F through holes, (respectively indicated by the letters I) and b.)

Arranged centrally in the bottom of the vessel is a step-bearing Z, on which is stepped a rotary shaft w, which at its upper end is journaled in a suitable bearing supported on the-frame G. On the lower part of the shaft to is fixed a paddle m, and fixed on said shaft above the paddle is a screw 8. Suitable means (not shown) are provided for rotating the shaft and the paddle and screw cararrow.

The operation of the device is as follows: The beans to be hulled and polished are introduced into the vessel Sand the shaft w rotated, thus rotating the paddle m and screw 8. The coffee-beans are forced down centrally in the vessel by the screw and are agitated by the paddle m, thus rubbing the beans together under pressure. As the beans are forced down the center of the vessel the beans near the edge of the latter are raised up, continuing to circulate in the vessel in the direction indicated by the arrows. A small quantity of water is sprayed over the beans While the latter are being acted upon, which, in connection with the heat communicated to the beans by the steam-jacket, facilitates the operation of hulling the beans by softening the latter. The air drawn through the holes b b removes the dust and renders the heating of the beans more rapid. If preferred, an air-forcing device may be connected with the pipe 0 in place of the air-exhauster, and thus force the air through the beans instead of withdrawing the air therefrom.

Having described my invention, what I claim'is 1. In a machine for cleaning and polishing coifee-beans, the combination with a vessel and an agitator, of an annular cap arranged on the upper end of the vessel and provided with an outer steam-jacket and an inner perforated air-jacket, and means for inducing a current of air through said air-jacket, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for cleaning and polishing cofiee-beans, the combination with a vessel and an agitator, of an annular cap arranged ried thereby in the direction indicated by the on the upper end of the vessel and provided I hand, in presence of two witnesses, this 24th with an outer steam-jacket and an inner perday of December, A. D. 1896. forated air-jacket, means for producing a current of air through said air-jacket, and means 5 for spraying the beans with water, substan- \Vitncsses:

tialiy as described. OTTORINO LAZZARI,

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my GIACOMO GUARNIERI.

ENRICO CANZIANI. 

